Week 5: Monday Predictions

By FM Robby Adamson (picture to the left. I am the guy in the white shirt )...

Time for Week 5 – very quick picks today. My record for predictions now stands at 19-13 – going 5-3 last week. Exciting matches again this week!

New England Nor’easters (3.5-.5) vs Philadelphia Inventors (1.5-2.5)

New England sports a fifty point average rating advantage – and should win this match handily. Key for Philly is probably to score on board 2 with Jay Bonin having the white pieces. Philly wins 3-1. 

 Carolina Cobras (.5-3.5) vs Manhattan Applesauce (1-3)        

Interesting plot line here with IM Lev Milman  playing against his former team, Carolina. Doesnt happen too often I dont think (GM Alejandro Ramirez and GM Alex Lenderman come to mind) – can anyone think of others? In any event, Carolina has a good chance to win given their “inside information” knowing how Lev plays. Not sure its gonna be enough – I predict a tie, 2-2. 

            
 St. Louis Arch Bishops (2-2) vs Dallas Destiny (1-3)             

This match is critical for both teams. Dallas has a very balanced lineup while St Louis “only” fields 1 GM this week. With no Naka or Yuri (good luck at the Olympaid!!), St Louis can put a higher rated player on board 4. The key game for St. Louis has to be board 1 – where GM Ben Finegold is white and will be itching to win his 2nd game of the USCL season. The key for Dallas is for IM Sadorra to defeat IM Michael Brooks. Dallas has a slight rating edge on 3rd and 4th but overall its pretty close. I predict Dallas by a hair, 2.5-1.5.

                
Chicago Blaze (2.5-1.5) vs Arizona Scorpions (4-0)      

 Two of the top teams in the West battle it out this week. As everyone knows, AZ has a perfect 4-0 lifetime record against Chicago, and in fact is 4-0 this year. However, Chicago is much improved this year as their record shows. I expect another close match – AZ wins 2.5-1.5.

Please stay tuned for more. We plan to post blogs, articles, and pictures every week. Come in and join the United States Chess League group and stay current on all the happenings around the league (and of course, with your favorite team: The Arizona Scoprions!)